Self-propelled sprinkling apparatus and safety means therefor

ABSTRACT

A SELF-PROPELLED SPRINKLING APPARATUS FOR SPRINKLING OR IRRIGATING A RELATIVELY LARGE ARE SURROUNDING A CENTRAL PIVOT POINT. A WATER SUPPLY PIPE EXTENDS OUTWARDLY FROM THE CENTRAL PIVOT POINT AND IS SUPPORTED BY A PLURALITY OF SPACED APART,. WHEELED TOWERS. AN AIR OPERTED DRIVE MEANS IS PROVIDED ON EACH OF THE TOWERS TO PROPEL THE TOWERS AND PIPE AROUND THE CENTRAL PIVOT POINT. A CONTROL MEANS IS PROVIDED ON EACH OF THE TOWERS AND IS INTERCONNECTED WITH EACH OF THE OTHER TOWERS TO SELECTIVELY OPERATE THE DRIVE MEANS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH TO MAINTAIN THE PIPE AND TOWERS IN AN ALIGNED CONDITION AS THE WATER SUPPLY PIPE IS PIVOTED AROUND THE CENTRAL PIVOT POINT. A SAFETY VALVE IS PROVIDED IN THE AIR CIRCUIT ON EACH OF THE TOWERS TO DE-ACTIVATE THE DRIVE MEANS ON ALL OF THE TOWERS UPON ONE OF THE TOWERS BECOMING OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH THE OTHER TOWERS TO PREVENT STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO THE APPARATUS.

Sept. 20, 1971 D. PAUL 3,606,161

SELP-PROPELLED SPRINKLING APPARATUS AND SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR Filed April 10, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 22 22 22 V/fl///////////////////////////////////////////////////Z C .Fzgf 1 3 20 /0 flvmswrae Ohm/ME P401.

5v 5M7, Wu/442 Sept. 20, 1971 0, PAUL 3,606,151

SELF-PROPELLED SPRINKLING APPARATUS AND SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR Filed April 10, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,606,161 SELF-PROPELLED SPRINKLING APPARATUS AND SAFETY MEANS THEREFOR Dwaine Paul, Amarillo, Tex., assiguor to Kroy Metal Products Co., York, Nebr.

Filed Apr. 10, 1969, Ser. No. 815,106 Int. Cl. Bb 3/16 US. Cl. 239-177 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A self-propelled sprinkling apparatus for sprinkling or irrigating a relatively large area surrounding a central pivot point. A water supply pipe extends outwardly from the central pivot point and is supported by a plurality of spaced apart, wheeled towers. An air operated drive means is provided on each of the towers to propel the towers and pipe around the central pivot point. A control means is provided on each of the towers and is interconnected with each of the other towers to selectively operate the drive means associated therewith to maintain the pipe and towers in an aligned condition as the water supply pipe is pivoted around the central pivot point' A safety valve is provided in the air circuit on each of the towers to de-activate the drive means on all of the towers upon one of the towers becoming out of alignment with the other towers to prevent structural damage to the apparatus.

This invention pertains to a self-propelled sprinkling apparatus and more particularly to a safety means for deactivating the sprinkling apparatus upon one of the towers thereof becoming out of alignment with the other towers of the system.

It has been found to be economically feasible to irrigate large areas of land through the use of a long water pipe extending from a central pivot point and being supported by a plurality of driven towers which are spaced apart along the length thereof. Means have been provided on systems of this type to maintain the towers and supply pipe in an aligned condition as the pipe and towers are pivoting around the central pivot point. The alignment systems presently available are less than satisfactory due to the inability of the same to de-activate the entire system in the event that one .of the towers becomes drastically out of alignment with respect to the other towers. When one of the towers does become out of major alignment with the other towers, the result is that the supply pipe, towers, cables, etc. are subjected to structural damage.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide a self-propelled sprinkling apparatus and safety means therefor.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selfpropelled sprinkling apparatus including means to deactivate the entire apparatus when one of the towers thereof becomes out of alignment with the remaining towers.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selfpropelled sprinkling apparatus and safety means therefor which prevents structural damage to the associated equipment.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a self-propelled sprinkling apparatus which is eificient in operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a self-propelled sprinkling apparatus and safety means therefor including an elongated water supply pipe supported by a plurality of spaced apart towers which are driven by a compressed air system.

A further object of this invention is to provide a selfpropelled sprinkling apparatus and safety means therefor which maintains the water supply pipe in an aligned condition during the sprinkling operation.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a selfpropelled sprinkling apparatus and safety means therefor which is relatively maintenance free.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a self-propelled sprinkling apparatus and safety means therefor which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the construction, arrangrnents, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, specifically pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus illustrating the water supply pipe being supported by a plurality of spaced apart towers;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view as seen along lines 3-3, the broken lines indicating the movement of the drive means;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the air circuit of this invention; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the alignment plate of this invention and the structure mounted thereon.

The sprinkling apparatus of this invention is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2 and includes a water supply pipe 12 extending outwardly from a central pivot point 14 and being in communication with a source of water under pressure. The pipe 12 is comprised of a plurality of tubular sections suitably connected together in an end to end relationship and supported by a plurality of towers 16. Each of the towers 16 generally consist of a horizontal frame means 18 having drive wheels 20 and 22 rotatably mounted at the opposite ends thereof as illustrated in FIG. 3. Wheels 20 and 22 are provided with a plurality of driving lugs 24 and 26 mounted on the periphery thereof respectively. A frame means 28 is secured to frame means 18 adjacent wheel 20 and extends upwardly therefrom while a frame means 30 is secured to frame means 18 and extends upwardly therefrom adjacent wheel 22. A frame 32 extends upwardly from the upper ends of frames 28 and 30 while a frame member 34 extends horizontally from the lower end thereof as seen in FIG. 3. The pipe 12 is supported on the frame member 34 as best seen in FIG. 3.

The upper ends of each of the towers 16 are interconnected by a cable means 36 extending therebetween as illustrated in FIG. 1. Each of the towers 16 also has a plurality of support cables 38 extending from the top thereof down to the pipe 12 as illustrated in FIG. 1. As illustrated in FIG. 2, a plurality of support arms 40 are secured to pipe 12 along the length thereof and extend transversely to the longitudinal axis of the pipe 12. The arms 40 are operatively interconnected by a suitable cable means and are also connected to the pipe 12 by a suitable cable means to provide the necessary strength to the apparatus.

Each of the towers 1.6 is provided with an alignment plate 42 mounted on the frame member 34. Alignment plate 42 has an arm 44 secured at one end thereof by welding or the like and extending therefrom as illustrated in FIG. 5. A cam bar 46 is movably mounted on the plate 42 by means of sleeves 48 and 50 as illustrated in FIG. 5. A bracket 52 is mounted on one end of the cam bar 46 and has one end of a spring means 54 adjustably secured thereto. The other end of the spring means 54 is adjustably connected to a bracket 56 which is mounted on the outer end of the member 44. A bracket 58 is mounted on the other end of cam bar 46 and has an alignment cable 60 secured thereo. Alignment cable 60 extends from bracket 58 to the tower 16 which is positioned adjacent thereto in an outward direction therefrom with respect to the central pivot point 14. As seen in FIG. 2, each of the towers has an alignment plate mounted thereon, the cam bar of which is operatively connected to the next adjacent tower by the alignment cable 60. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a valve 62 is mounted on the plate 42 and has a roller 64 rotatably mounted on one end of a plunger 66 which extends from the valve 62. A valve 68 is mounted on the alignment plate 42 and has a roller 70 rotatably mounted on the outer end of the plunger '72 which extends therefrom. Cam bar 46 is provided with a cam 74 mounted on the upper end thereof and a pair of spaced apart cams 76 and 78 mounted on the lower end thereof. The movement of the cam bar 46 towards the left as viewed in FIG. 5 will cause roller 64 to engage the cam 74 which causes the plunger 66 to move into the valve 62. Sufiicient movement of the cam bar 46 in either direction as viewed in FIG. 5 will cause the plunger 72 to be moved into valve 68 due to the engagement of the roller 70 with either of the cams 76 or 78.

A plate 80 is pivotally secured to frame means 28 at 82 and has a pair of drive arms 84 and 86 pivotally secured to the lower end thereof and extending outwardly therefrom as viewed in FIG. 3. The outer ends of drive arms 84 and 86 are provided with driving lugs 88 and 90 thereon respectively which are adapted to engage the lugs 24 and 26 respectively to cause the wheels 20 and 22 to be rotated in a predetermined direction upon the pivotal movement of the plate 80. A bar 92 is secured to plate 80 and extends outwardly there-from as viewed in FIG. 3. The outer end of bar 92 is pivotally connected to the upper end of a cylinder rod 94 which extends upwardly and outwardly of a cylinder 96 pivotally connected to frame 18 at 98. The numeral 100 generally designates a piston provided at the lower end of the cylinder rod 94. Bar 92 is provided with an car 102 secured to one side thereof which slidably receives a rod 104 extending therethrough. Rod 104 is provided with stops 106 and 108 mounted thereon in a spaced apart condition and engageable by the car 102 to cause the vertical movement of the rod 104 in an upward direction as cylinder rod 94 is extended from the cylinder 96 and in a downward direction when the cylinder rod 94 is retracted in the cylinder 96. A plate 110 is mounted on the tower 16 above the bar 92 and has a a cam 112 pivotally mounted thereon. Cam 112 is pivotal about point 114 and has the upper end of the rod 104 pivotally connected thereto at 116. A valve 118 is mounted on the plate 110 and has a roller 120 rotatably mounted on the outer end of a plunger 122 extending therefrom. As best seen in FIG. 4, roller 120 is in engagement with cam surface 124 of cam 112. The upward movement of rod 104 causes cam 112 to be pivoted in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 3 which causes the plunger 122 to be moved into the interior of valve 118. A spring means 126 extends between the plate 119 and the cam 112 to yieldably resist the counter-clockwise pivotal movement of the cam 112 as viewed in FIG. 3.

Water under pressure is supplied to the interior of pipe 12 at the central pivot point 14 and would be sprinkled on the area to be irrigated through conventional sprinkler heads provided along the length of the pipe 12. In FIG. 4, the numeral 128 generally refers to a power source providing the necessary power to an air compressor 130. Air compressor 130 is connected to a suitable air tank 132 by a line 134. Tank 11 is connected to a cooling coil unit 136 by a line 138 and a line 140 connects unit 138 to a moisture trap 142. Trap 142 is connected to a filter 144 by a line 146. Line 148 extends from filter 144 to a T connection 150. Line 152 connects connection with a regulator 154 while line 156 connects regulator 154 with tanks 160 which are provided on each of the towers 16. The upper end of tank 160 is connected to line 156 by a line 162. It should be noted that a tank 168 will be provided on each of the towers 16 as will the remaining structure of FIG. 4 which is yet to be described. The lower end of tank 160 is connected to the exhaust port of the cylinder 96 or by a line 166. Cylinder 96 is connected to valve 118 by a line 168 extending therefrom at a point below the piston 100. Valve 118 is connected to valve 62 by a line 170 as viewed in FIG. 4. A line 172 extends from the T connection 150 to valve 68 and which is exhaustible to the atmosphere as will be described later. A line 174 connects valve 62 with the line 172 at 176 while a line 178 extends from line 172 at 180 to the control apparatus on the other towers 16. For all practical purposes, line 152 extending from connection 150 may be best described as a low pressure line while the line 178 extending from connection 180 may best be described as a high pressure line. If desired, an optional flow control means 182 may be provided as illustrated in FIG. 4.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows. Water is supplied through the pipe 12 to the various sprinkler heads provided thereon and compressed air is furnished to the tank 132 from the compressor 130. The air is piped to the tank 132 thence through the cooling coil 136 and thence into the moisture trap 142. The air is then filtered through the filter 144 and supplied to the T connection 150. The T connection 150 would be provided at the No. 1 tower, that is the tower closest to the central pivot point, to permit the compressed air to pass through a regulator 154 and thence onto the tank 160 which is pressurized to a predetermined static pressure set at the regulator 154. The recommended static pressure in the tank 60 is 15 to 18 p.s.i. Each of the tanks 160 in the entire system are interconnected with each other by means of the low pressure line 156. The lower portion of the tank 160 is in operative communication with the exhaust port of the cylinder 96. At each tower, the high pressure line 172 is connected to the alignment valve 62 and to the safety valve 68 as previously described. Valve 62 is actuated by the cam 74 on the bar 46 while valve 68 is actuated by either of the cams 76 and 78 on the bar 46. The cam bar 46 is mechanically actuated by the cable 60 and by the spring means 54 depending upon the individual towers relative alignment within the total sprinkler system. When bar 46 causes valve 62 to open, compressed air travels through line 170 to valve 118 which is actuated by the cam 112 operatively connected to the piston rod of cylinder 96. When valve 118 is open, the compressed air is permitted to travel to the inlet port of the cylinder 96 forcing the piston rod 94 upwardly. When the piston rod 94 has reached its maximum vertical travel, the mechanical linkage connected to the piston rod 94 closes valve 118.

When valve 118 closes, it exhausts the compressed air in the power side of the cylinder 96 thereby allowing the pre-set static pressure in tank 160 to return the piston in cylinder 96 to the retracted position. This action, through the mechanical linkage connected to the piston rod 96 opens the valve 118 at the lower extreme of the piston travel and the cycle is repeated. The movement of the piston rod 94 causes bar 92 to pivot the plate 80 which in turn moves the drive arm to cause tht wheels 20 and 22 to be rotated in the proper direction. At such time as the respective tower regains its alignment, valve 62 is moved to the closed position by the movement of the cam bar 46. As valve 62 closes, the stroking of the cylinder 96 is stopped. If, for any reason, the tower is unable to maintain its proper alignment, whether ahead or behind its proper relative position, and as its position becomes more critical from the standpoint of possible structural damage, the cam bar 46 moves further in a relative direction until valve 68 is opened by one of the earns 76 or 80. When valve 68 is opened, the pressure in the system is bled off into the atmosphere. As the pressure drops to a predetermined level it actuates a pressure sensitive switch which in turn de-activates the power source 128 which furnishes power to the air compressor. The pressure sensitive switch and the electrical circuit are of conventional design and are not illustrated herein for purposes of conciseness. As the system pressure drops and the power source is de-activated, the sprinkler system comes to a stop thereby preventing any mechanical and structural damage to any portion of the associated equipment.

Thus it can be seen that a unique self-propelled sprinkling apparatus has been provided and more particularly a safety valve means for the system which tie-activates the entire system in the event that one of the towers cannot maintain its proper position relative to the towers of the system. Thus it can be seen that the apparatus accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of my self-propelled sprinkled apparatus and safety means thertfor without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my invention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim:

1. A selfpropelled sprinkling apparatus, comprising,

a water supply pipe movable about a central pivot point,

means supplying water to said supply pipe, a plurality of spaced apart, wheeled towers supporting said supply pipe above the area to be sprinkled,

an air operated drive means on each of said towers to propel said towers and said supply pipe about said central pivot point, each of said drive means including a control means to cause said drive means to be operated, the control means on each of said towers being operatively interconnected whereby the drive means on each of said towers will be selectively driven to maintain said supply pipe in an aligned condition as said supply pipe is moved about said pivot point,

a source of compressed air connected to each of said drive means for powering the same, each of said control means including a safety valve means which is exhaustable to the atmosphere to de-activate all of said drive means on said towers upon said tower becoming out of alignment a pre determined amount relative to the other towers, an alignment cable extending from the control means on one tower to the tower next adjacent thereto,

said drive means including a hydraulic cylinder means having its piston rod operatively connected to a pivotal arm means adapted to cause the rotation of the wheel means on said tower,

said control means including a first valve means adapted to cause said hydraulic cylinder means to stroke at a predetermined rate, said first valve means being operatively connected to said alignment cable, said first valve means being closed when the tension in said alignment cable is at a predetermined amount and being opened to active said hydraulic cylinder means and to cause said wheel means to be rotated when the tension in said alignment cable reaches another predetermined level,

said drive and control means including a tank having a static pressure therein, a first line connecting said tank with said source of compressed air, a hydraulic cylinder means having inlet and exhaust ports, a second line connecting said tank and exhaust port of said hydraulic cylinder means, a third line connecting said inlet port of said hydraulic cylinder means and one side of said first valve means, an alignment valve, a fourth line connecting one side of said alignment valve and the other side of said first valve means, a fifth line connecting said first line and the other side of said alignment valve, a sixth valve connecting said fifth line and said safety valve means,

said first valve means having a plunger means extending therefrom which is movable with respect thereto by a pivotal first cam means, said first valve means being opened when said plunger means is extended therefrom an being closed when said plunger means is retracted thereinto,

said hydraulic cylinder having a piston rod extending upwardly therefrom, the upper end of said piston rod being pivotally connected to said first cam means to open and close said first valve means.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a cam bar is horizontally movably mounted on a support means, one end of said cam bar being connected to said alignment cable, the other end of said cam bar having a resilient means connected thereto to yieldably resist the movement of said cam bar in one direction, said safety valve means having a plunger means extending therefrom, said alignment valve and said safety valve means being positioned adjacent said cam bar so that the plungers extending therefrom are positioned adjacent a cam means on said cam bar, said cam means on said cam bar including a first cam adapted to engage the plunger of said alignment valve to open said alignment valve when the cam bar is moved in a second direction by the alignment cable and to close the alignment valve when the said resilient means moves the cam bar in said one direction, said cam mans on said cam bar also including a second cam means on said cam bar also including a second cam adapted to engage the plunger of said safety valve means and to exhaust the same to the atmosphere when said cam bar is moved in a predetermined amount in either of said directions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,932,698 10/1933 Jose 66 2,941,727 6/ 1960 Zybach 239212X 3,353,750 11/1967 Dowd 239--l77 3,3 86,661 6/1968 Olson et al 239177 3,484,046 12/1969 Harris 239177 M. HENSON WOOD, 1a., Primary Examiner M. Y. MAR, Assistant Examiner US Cl. X.R. ]37-344; 18066 

